Capping machinery



April 3, 1937. H. E. GAN-fzER I 2,076,631

CAPPING MACHINERY Filed Aug. 3, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 13, 1937; H E ANTZE 2,076,631

GAPPING MACHINERY Filed Aug. 3, 19:55 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3rwentor HOWARD YE. GANTZER' (Ittorneg 5 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Aug. 3, 1933 Zhwentor HOWARD E. GANTZER (Ittomeg April 13, 1937. H, E, GANTZER CAPPING MACHINERY Filed Aug. 5, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 &

Snnentor HOWARD E. GANTZER (Ittorneg Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNE'EEQ STATES PATENT orriee CAPPING MACHHVERY Application August 3, 1933, Serial No. 683,432

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for assembling caps and containers having cooperating threaded surfaces whereby the cap is screwed onto the container, particularly adapted for assembling caps having linings or packings for engaging the mouth of the container and forming a tight closure therewith.

My invention more particularly relates to a novel capping chuck adapted to be used in connection with the type of machine described in United States Patent No. 1,773,960, issued August 26, 1930,

to R. N. Cundall, to which reference is made for a more complete description of the machine.

Chucks as heretofore developed and specifically illustrated in theabove patent have a number of objectionable features, especially in applying caps having enamelled or highly finished surfaces. One object of my invention is to devise a chuck which will handle such caps and apply the necessary pressure to secure the cap onto the container without marking or marring its surface.

The ordinary cap is formed of thin metal pressed into shape and having a screw thread formed therein by rolling its flange between forming dies. Such a cap is never uniform and it is desirable to locate it with respect to the container by seating its upper end and top firmly within a chuck, this portion of the cap being more uniform than the remainder thereof. One object of my invention is to devise a chuck which will function in this manner. 7

Another object of my invention is to devise a chuck which will apply the cap with a great deal of downward pressure to compress the neck of the container into the cap lining without distorting the shape of the cap.

Another object of my invention is to device a chuck which will screw a cap onto a container to the desired extent and will not tend to rotate the cap beyond the point which has been adjustably determined as its limit of safety.

The principle involved in my chuck is that of applying pressure to the top and sides of a cap through certain members actuated by springs, rather than by outside positive mechanical means, thus forr 1Q a holder which is completely self-con d so that one may be simply removed from the le replaced by another of different dimensions or adapted to operate on a different type of cap. I have herewith illustrated several possible modifications in which certain functions are performed one member while in others the functions may be performed by modifications of this member, but in all cases it will (c1. 226 ss) be noted that the fundamental principles as outlined above apply. 7

This device incorporates certain essential features necessary or desirable to facilitate the operation of securing caps to containers by mechanical means, and comprises a chuck which is selfcontained and is operated by the reciprocation of the chuck itself as it approaches and recedes from the container.

Other and further advantages and features of my invention will be pointed out in the following specification taken in connection with the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a section taken through the type of machine illustrated in United States Patent No. 1,773,960, and having my improved chucks attached thereto, I

Figure 2 is a section taken through one form of my chuck,

Figure 3 is a section taken through this form of chuck along the line 3--3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an exploded view in perspective of this form of chuck,

Figure6 is a View partly in section of a chuck illustrating certain modifications which may be made,

Figure '7 is a view partly in section of another form of chuck, I

Figure 8 is a sectional View illustrating the chuck applying a cap to a container,

1 Figure 9 is a sectional view of my chuck in opened position, and

a Figure 10 is a bottom View thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1, a brief description of the machine will now be given which will be sufficient to set forth the mode of operation of my invention. The numeral It refers to an upright, stationary post which extends through a bearing I I mounted on table l2'which rotates about post IE}. Table l2 carries'grippin'g jaws II? which are adapted to grip the container i l and carry it with the table while preventing it from rotating. The movable jaws of grippers l3 are operated by rocker shafts l5 journaled at their upper ends in a rotary supporting head or disc l6 and carrying rocker arms I? and follower rollers l8 above head IS. The rollers I8 follow a cam slot E9 in a stationary cam plate 20 through which post Ill extends. As the head 16 rotates, rollers l8 approach and recede from shaft Hi, thus rocking the shafts l5 and causing the movable jaws of grippers 53 to clamp and release containers placed on table l2 between the jaws.

The containers may be placed on the table, in position to be grasped by the grippers, and removed therefrom by any suitable means. Caps are also fed in upright position to the machine by suitable means and are gripped bythe chucks at the proper time in the sequence of operations.

Cam'plate 28 is mounted on the lower surface of asupporting plate 2| fixed to post II! by a set screw 22.

tour. The outer edge of plate 2| terminates in a flange having gear teeth 24 thereon. Plate |6 has bearings 25 therein inwhich are mounted upwardly extending spindles 26 whose upper ends are carried in bearings 21 in a plate 28 mounted to rotate'about post I0. Extending radially inward from each spindle 26 is a follower roller'38 which rides on the cam surface of ring 23. Spinj otally mounted on plate 2| and pressed downward by spring 33. A greater or lesser yielding pressure may be applied downwardly upon thetop of a cap as the compression of;spring 33' is adjusted bybolt 34 about which it is mounted, or by altering the shape of cam 32.

Spindles 26 carry the chucks, indicated generally at 46, at their lower ends and have mounted therein chuck rods or plungers 35 yieldingly constrained upward by springs 36. Mounted on plate 28 is a. ring 31 carrying adjustable abutments 38 above andin line with the enlarged heads of plungers 35. As a spindle 26 is raised by cam 23 the enclosed plunger 35 is limited in its upward movement by abutment 38 and opens the jaws of the chuck as will be hereinafter ex plained.

For a more detailed operation of this mechanism, reference is again made to UnitedStates Patent No. 1,773,960, wherein the means to cause the chuck in its open position to descend upon a previously positioned cap, and carry it up above the normal height of a container is shown. With this cap so grasped the chuck continues to rotate about its own axis and also about the post ||l while a container is positioned on table I2 and grasped by grippers I3. ,The follower 30 now rides downwardly along the lower portion of cam 23, shown in Fig. 1, and the chuck rotates and partially screws the cap onto a container.

fThe holding cam 32 does not extend for a greater distance than necessaryto'firmly apply the cap to the container, and chuck 40 will again be raised by cam 23 and the jaws thereof opened ready to receive another cap while the capped 7 container is ejected from the'machine.

One form of chuck is detailed in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive and will now be described. The chuck is fastened to the end of spindle 26 by suitable means such as screw threads on the upper end of member 45 which forms part of a universal joint connecting the chuck jaws to the driving spindle. Member 45 comprises two downwardly Plate 2| carries an upwardly extend-. ing ring 23 having its upper edge cut away at" suitable points to form a cam of the desired con extending arms 46 terminating in a ring 41. A portion of the outer surface of each arm 46 is cut inwardly above ring 41 to form a reduced portion at 48. Two diametrically opposed pins 49 extend downwardly from ring'41. Ring 41 bears against a ring 50 in which are four slots 5| spaced equally around its inner circumference and extending radially outward toward its outer circumference. 'The inner and outer diameters of rings 41 and 58 are respectively equal. Ring 50 is seated-on a ring 52 having substantially the same outer diameter but whose inner diameter is materially reduced. Two pins 53 extend upwardly from ring 52.. Pins 49 fit into two of the slots 5| and pins 53 fit into the others, thus forming a positive driving connection between spindle 26 and ring 52 while allowing the ring 52 and the remainder of the chuckto float or have a universal movement in a horizontal plane in order .to accommodate variations which are to be found in the ordinary type of container. Y Ring 52 is seated upon a friction disc 54 composed of fiber, leather, cork or other material, which is in turn seated within a holding cavity in the chuck'body 55 and frictionally tends to rotate the chuck. Rings 41, 50 and 52 and friction disc 54 flt within this holding cavity and a retaining ring 56 is slipped over the arms 46 and fastened to chuck body 55 by means of screws 51, the inner diameter of the holding ring being smaller than the ring 41 but larger than the reduced portion 48 on arms 46 so as to allow universal movement of the chuck. A nose ring 58 is affixed to chuck body 55 and-extends downwardly therefrom, forming a cavity within which the chuck jaws 59 are placed. The chuck jaws have inwardly. disposed pivot pins 60 which are seated on a flange 6| on the lower end of a jaw stem 62, whose upper end extends through block 55 and ring 52. A spring 63 encircles jaw stem 62 and is adjustably compressed against the top of ring 52 by means of nuts 64. The chuck jaws 59 have rounded flanges 65 thereon which bear against the inner surface of the nose ring 58 and keep the upper ends of the jaws seated while allowing the lower ends to pivot outwardly in order to be opened sufiiciently to grasp a cap therein. Extending inwardly from each chuck jaw is a flange 66 whose upper surface is bevelled downwardly and against which bears the correspondingly bevelled lower end of a stripper pin 61 which extends 'coaxially upward into jaw stem 62. 66 form a seat against which the top of a cap bears. A pin 8| extends outwardly from jaw stem 62 and into the space between two of thepivot pins 60 to: unite the chuck jaws. and jaw stem for rotary movement. Two of the chuck jaws are cut away on adjacent edges as at 68 and a pin 69 on'nose ring 58 extends into the slot so formed and unites the chuck jaws to the nose ring for rotation therewith. The inner, lower end of nose ring 58 is bevelled at 10 and flanges 1| on the chuck jaws bear against this bevelled surface. Chuck rod 35 extends downwardly through a bore 12 in the member 45 and into a bore 13 in jaw stem 62, the latter bore having a larger diameter than the rod in order to allow free movement of The lower surfaces offlanges the chuck, and bears against the upper'end of 1 that the chuck will apply a cap to a container until the lining therein is lightly seated on the mouth of the container, whereupon the spindle and member 45 will continue to rotate While the chuck jaws remain stationary.

The operation of the chuck from the time it is opened to receive a cap until it again reaches the same stage will now be described. The jaws when opened are pivoted outwardly about flanges 65, the stripper 61 having pushed them down, and the pivot pins til having pulled jaw stem 62 downwardly against the force of spring 63 which tends to close the jaws. Flanges ll fitting over the end of nose ring 58 tend to retain the chuck jaws in open position. As the chuck rotates about post In it is lowered onto a previously positioned cap until the lower end of stripper pin 67. contacts therewith and is forced upward, allowing the chuck jaws 59 to pivot inwardly until flanges ll bear against the bevelled surface 70, whereupon the jaws will snap shut due to the compression of spring 63. The chuck is now raised while a container is gripped by grippers l3. Thereafter follower 30 rides down on the lower portion of cam 23 while the chuck screws the cap onto the container until the lining is lightly seated thereon. The chuck now slips and remains stationary until follower 30 is forced downwardly by the holding cam 32. Flanges 66 of the chuck jaws, bearing down on the top of the cap, compress the lining into the neck of the container and relieve the highly frictional contact of the screw threads of the container and cap. The chuck now rotates until it again slips, thus firmly seating the cap where it will retain the lining compressed into the container neck to tightly seal the container. In this way the cap is assembled on the container without undue rotative force being required, the effort necessary to compress the lining being transmitted downwardly upon the top of the cap while the rotative force is applied only when the cap is substantially free from frictional contact with the container.

The container is held firmly by the grippers l3 while at the same time the chuck has a grip on the cap, so that as follower 38 is again raised by cam 23 the jaws of the chuck are usually caused to snap open. However, it sometimes happens that the supply of containers is temporarily exhausted through accident or carelessness, or that the container feeding means becomes temporarily out of order, so that a container is not present to receive the cap. The same situations may arise in the cap feeding means, so that a cap is not present to be attached to a container, or it may happen that the container or cap is defective so that they do not unite. In any of the above situations it is important that the chuck jaws be opened, or a more or less serious jam and delay will occur. An important feature of my invention is that the chuck is positively opened at each upward movement of the spindle. This is accomplished by rod 35 striking abutment 38 as cam 23 raises the chuck, the rod forcing stripper pin 6'! downwardly and the bevelled surfaces of the pin and chuck jaws cooperating to open the chuck jaws.

This feature is doubly important in another respect. As mentioned above, the cap or container may be defective and a tight closure cannot be effected. In machines heretofore used the defect could not be discovered easily and a poorly capped container would be allowed to go out to the consumer. With my chuck, when a defective closure occurs the cap will be stripped from the container and then ejected from the chuck. The open container will be ejected from the machine, but the operator can instantly detect it and cause it to be discarded. In this manner it is assured that defective containers are prevented from leaving the factory.

The vertical face 74 on the stripper pin cooperates with vertical faces 15 on the chuck jawsto hold them open, while a skirt 76 on the stripper pin prevents it from falling out. (Figs. 9 and 10.) The stripper pin thus locks the jaws open until it is forced upwardly by contact with the top of a cap. The lower faces of the chuck jaws may be bevelled inwardly as at II in order that the inner edges of the chuck jaws will not project so far downwardly when the jaws are open as to strike the top of the cap before it is positioned within the chuck. The inner surfaces of the jaws maybe ribbed or knurled, or smooth, depending upon the type of cap being used. Some caps have a bead extending around their tops and for this reason the chuck jaws may be relieved as at 78. It has also been found to be best in some situations that a second relieved portion as at '79, (Fig. 6) extend around the chuck jaws at the position where the thread of the cap would normally contact therewith, and that the lower edge of the chuck be bevelled off as at 80, in order to allow a better contact of the chuck jaws with the cap and to prevent the thread from tilting the cap.

Cam 32 and spring 33 have several functions to perform. The cam lowers the cap on the container and the adjustable compression of spring 33 determines the extent to which the lining is compressed by such lowering. .In addition it is apparent that increased pressure on cam 32 will increase the gripping action of jaws 59 due to the cooperation of the beveled surface it! and flanges ll. greater will be the downward pressure on the top of the cap and the greater the peripheral gripping action. The downward pressure on the top of the cap is important and necessary to seat the lip of the container in the liner of the cap, thereby insuring a more perfect seal, and the increase in gripping action is important and necessary to overcome the increased frictional contact of the lining and the lip of the container. Prior to this point in the operation of the machine the gripping action has been brought about by the action of spring 53 alone, which is not sufl'icient to overcome the aforementioned frictional contact. As a correlative of the foregoing it is apparent that greater force will be applied to the friction washer 54 to cause the chuck jaws to rotate with the spindle. The functions of spring 33 as outlined above are extremely important in that a uniform adjustment of all the chucks is affected without stopping the machine. If it were not for this feature the machine would have to be stopped and each set of nuts 54 adjusted to correct any deviation from the correct closing operation. As a result it would require great care and a large loss of time to effect uniform adjustment of all of the chucks. With the present structure the chucks are individually adjusted before the machine is started, and collectively adjusted to meet instant requirements as the machine is in operation.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification wherein the chuck body and nose ring are combined in one integral piece and. other parts are modified correspondingiy to adapt the chuck to caps of very small diameter while retaining the exact principles of the previously described chuck. The

The more that spring 33 is tightened, the

member by means of which the chuckis united to the spindle may completely enclose the jaw stem as indicated, the purpose of having'separated arms such as 46 in Fig. 5 being merely to allow access to the adjusting nuts 64. It is also apparent from this figure that the cappin machine may be adjusted to operate on various sizes of caps, simply by removing ring 56 and replacing the chuck jaws and nose ring and associated parts with others of the size desired, or by replacing the entire chuck.

Fig. 7 is a further modification adapted to operate on largecaps. In thismodification the nose ring 86 is screwed onto a member 8'! having a are springs 95 adjustably compressed by set screws 96, and comprising additional spring means acting on the friction washer to more evenly distribute the downward pressure thereon. The space between member 81 and member 93 is larger than the enclosed rings so that a universal movement of the chuck jaws is allowed. Ring 99 is positively rotated by the spindle and tends to rotate the chuck through the friction disc 9|, the torque transmitted being varied by adjustment of screws 96. The remainder of the chuck is identical with the chuck shown in Fig. 2, except for the diiference in size allowed by this form.

Fig. 8 illustrates my chuck applying a cap 99 to a container I4 and illustrates how the chuck jaw flanges press down upon the top of the cap, compressing the lining illl and relieving the friction between the cooperating threads at I00.

, Figs. 9 and 10 clearly show the chuck ready to receive a cap. The cooperation of stripper pin 61, chuck jaws 59 and nose ring is clearly expressed in these views,as well as illustrating the extent'to which the jaws are opened;

' It is'now apparent that I have invented a cap assembling chuck which is eflicient in its operation and embodies desirable features which are not to be found in others previously used.

As will beevident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits or various modifications and 'I do not intend to be limited to the specific details illustrated, the scope of my invention being set forth in the appended claims which are to be broadly construed.

What I claim is:

1. Ina container capping machine, a rotary cap applying chuck comprising a rotatable body, cap engaging jaws associated therewith, friction means transmitting torque from said body to said jaws, and spring means to control the torque transmitted to said jaws, said spring means also acting to close said jaws.

2. In a container capping machine, a rotary cap applying chuck comprising a rotatable body, cap engaging jaws associated therewith, said jaws having pivot pins thereon, a member substantially enclosing said jaws, a jaw stem extending through said member, said stem having a flange at its lower end upon which said pivot pins engaging jaws associated therewith, said jaws having pivot pins thereon, a member substantially enclosing said jaws, a jaw stem extending through said member, said stem having a flange at its lower end upon whichsaid pivot pins bear,

a spring encircling said jaw stem and yieldingly retaining said jaws in said member, and a strip-' per pin coaxially within said stem and resting on said jaws.- I i 4. In a container capping machine,'a rotary chuck havingpivoted jaws therein, spring means to close said jaws, and a stripper pin to open said jaws, said pin and said jaws having vertical faces thereon which register when the jaws; are open and lock the jaws in open position against the compression of said spring.

5. In a rotary cap applying chuck, pivoted cap engaging jaws, each of said jaws having a flange thereon bearing against the top of the cap and a vertical face engaging the side of the cap, said verticalface having a. groove substantially parallel with and intermediate its top and bottom edges.

6. In a container capping machine a rotary chuck having gripping jaws therein, a friction means to transmitdriving torque to said jaws, a spring adjustable to vary the gripping action of said jaws while varying the torque transmitted, and external means adjustable tovary said gripping action and torque independently of said spring.

'7. In a container capping machine a plurality of rotary chucks mounted on a turret, each of'said chucks having cap gripping jaws, frictional torque transmitting means and means adjustable to vary the gripping action of said jaws and the a torque transmitted, and means to collectively adjust the gripping action and torque transmitted independently of said first means.

8. In a container capping machine, a plurality of rotary chucks, each having gripping jaws and means to vary the gripping action of said jaws, and means to collectively adjust the gripping'action independently of said first means.

9. In combination; a cap applying chuck normally acting under the pressure applied by gravity alone comprising a member and cap engag-- ing jaws substantially enclosed therein, means to cause said jaws to engage the flange of a cap to grip the same, and means to vary the pressure on said chuck, said member and said jaws'having wedging engagement whereby variationsin' pressure applied to the chuck during its cap applying action cause variations in the gripping pressure of said jaws.

V 10. In a container capping machine, a chuck comprising a member and gripping jaws substantially enclosed within said member, a jaw stem supporting said jaws and extending beyond said member, a spring cooperating with said jaw stem to draw said jaws within said member to thereby I and gripping jaws substantially enclosed within said member, a jaw stem supporting said jaws and extending beyond said member, a spring cooperating with said jaw stem to draw said jaws within said member, flanges on said jaws, and a cooperating bevelled face on said member whereby said jaws are caused to converge during movement of said jaws into said member.

12. A cap applying chuck comprising a member and gripping jaws substantially enclosed within said member, a jaw stem supporting said jaws and extending beyond said member, a spring cooperating with said jaw stem to draw said jaws within said member to grip a cap, a stripper pin coaxial with said jaw stem, cooperating faces on said jaws and said stripper pin whereby relative movement of said stripper pin causes spreading of said jaws against the force of said spring, and cooperating faces on said member, said jaws and said stripper pin whereby said jaws are locked in extended open position until said stripper pin is retracted.

13. A cap applying chuck comprising a member and gripping jaws substantially enclosed within said member, a jaw stem supporting said jaws and extending beyond said member, a spring cooperating with said jaw stem to draw said jaws within said member to grip a cap, a stripper pin coaxial with said jaw stem, cooperating bevelled faces on said jaws and said stripper pin whereby relative movement of said stripper pin causes extension and spreading of said jaws against the force of said spring, cooperating faces on said member, said jaws and said stripper pin whereby said jaws are locked in extended open position until said stripper pin is retracted, and cooperating faces on said member and said jaws acting to wedge said jaws into converging cap gripping relation upon retraction of said stripper pin.

14. A rotary cap applying chuck for use in a container capping machine comprising, a rotatable body, cap engaging jaws associated therewith, a member substantially enclosing said jaws and comprising a rigid backing for said jaws in opened and closed position, friction means transmitting torque from said body to said jaws, and a joint connecting said body to said member comprising relatively movable driven and driving elements allowing lateral play of said jaws relative to said body.

15. A rotary cap applying chuck for use in a container capping machine comprising, a rotatable body, cap engaging jaws associated therewith, a member substantially enclosing said jaws and comprising a rigid backing for said jaws in opened and closed position, friction means transmitting torque from said body to said jaws and drically skirted cap therein, wherein the chuck,

includes a vertically disposed movable member having a flange at its lower end, a plurality of closely adjacent arcuate sections forming the side wall of the chuck and each having inwardly extending means at its upper end resting upon said flange, a cam ring surrounding the sections and within which said vertically disposed member and said sections are mounted for limited axial movement with respect thereto, said cam ring and sections having cooperating portions to contract the sections in clamping a cap and for locating the sections concentrically therewith when the vertically disposed member is moved axially with respect to the ring.

HOWARD E. GANTZ ER. 

